In a post-match press conference, Pakistan’s director, Mickey Arthur, shared his perspective on the atmosphere during the ICC World Cup 2023 match against India in Ahmedabad. He pointed out that the event seemed more like a bilateral series or a BCCI event than an ICC tournament.
“It didn’t seem like an ICC event tonight – let’s be brutally honest. It seemed like a bilateral series or a BCCI event. I did not hear Dil Dil Pakistan coming through the mics too often. That does play a role, but I won’t use it as an excuse,” he mentioned.
Responding to this, a BCCI official raised an interesting question, emphasising that there was no harm in playing Dil Dil Pakistan.
“You tell us when we should have played? When Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were dismissed or when Rohit Sharma hit six to Shaheen Afridi,” the official inquired.
“One can play this when fans are present but there was no one for the Pakistan team,” the official added.
Indian media outlets have also weighed in on the matter, portraying Arthur’s comments as a significant topic of discussion. Some believe his statements have sparked a broader conversation, potentially bringing the BCCI’s role into question. While some believe it was just another excuse for Pakistan’s crushing defeat.
Arthur, cautious of potential fines, refrained from elaborating further on the subject, recognizing that he might have overstepped boundaries.
Notably, the match saw a significant presence of Indian fans at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, with Pakistan supporters being a rare sight in the crowd.
Head coach Grant Bradburn also reverberated the same sentiments as Mickey Arthur about the one-sided atmosphere at the Narendra Modi stadium.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam also faced the music as he was greeted with loud boos during the toss.
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